Baseline Karnofsky performance status is independently predictive of death within 30 days of intracranial radiation therapy completion for metastatic disease

IntroductionFor patients with brain metastases, palliative radiation therapy (RT) has long been a standard of care for improving quality of life and optimizing intracranial disease control. The duration of time between completion of palliative RT and patient death has rarely been evaluated.MethodsA compilation of two prospective institutional databases encompassing April 2015 through December 2018 was used to identify patients who received palliative intracranial radiation therapy. A multivariate logistic regression model characterized patients adjusting for age, sex, admission status (inpatient versus outpatient), Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), and radiation therapy indication.Results136 consecutive patients received intracranial palliative radiation therapy. Patients with baseline KPS <70 (OR = 2.2; 95%CI = 1.6–3.1; p < 0.0001) were significantly more likely to die within 30 days of treatment. Intracranial palliative radiation therapy was most commonly delivered to provide local control (66% of patients) or alleviate neurologic symptoms (32% of patients), and was most commonly delivered via whole brain radiation therapy in 10 fractions to 30 Gy (38% of patients). Of the 42 patients who died within 30 days of RT, 31 (74%) received at least 10 fractions.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that baseline KPS <70 is independently predictive of death within 30 days of palliative intracranial RT, and that a large majority of patients who died within 30 days received at least 10 fractions. These results indicate that for poor performance status patients requiring palliative intracranial radiation, hypofractionated RT courses should be strongly considered.     

The efficacy of 18F-FDG PET/CT-based diagnostic model in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer regional lymph node metastasis

In order to assess the efficacy of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT-based diagnostic model in diagnosing colorectal cancer (CRC) lymph node metastasis (LNM), the ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT medical records of CRC patients were acquired, and the CRC regional LNM diagnostic model was constructed through the combination of image and grain factors of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT. The specific analysis methods include univariate analysis, multivariate analysis, ROC curve analysis, and statistical analysis. The research results showed statistical differences in TNM staging, intestinal obstructions, tumor infiltration, regional lymph node (LN) SUVmax, regional LN minimum dimension, and remote metastasis between the CRC patients in the LNM positive group and the LNM negative group. Through the comparisons between the diagnostic model proposed in the research and other diagnostic methods, it was found that the AUC (95%CI) and sensitivity of the proposed diagnostic model were the highest, the comprehensive diagnostic efficacy of the diagnostic model was optimal. Therefore, it was concluded that the diagnostic model was of significant application values, which provided the basis for subsequent clinical diagnosis of CRC.     

Improving NK1R-targeted gene delivery of stearyl-antimicrobial peptide CAMEL by conjugating it with substance P

Specificity is a crucial condition that hampers the application of non-viral vectors for cancer gene therapy. In a previous study, we developed an efficient gene vector, stearyl-CAMEL, using N-terminal stearylation of the antimicrobial peptide CAMEL. Substance P (SP), an 11-residue neuropeptide, rapidly enters cells after binding to the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R), which is expressed in many cancer cell lines. In this study, the NK1R-targeted gene vector stearyl-CMSP was constructed by conjugating SP to the C-terminus of stearyl-CAMEL. Our results indicated that stearyl-CMSP displayed significant transfection specificity for NK1R-expressing cells compared with that shown by stearyl-CAMEL. Accordingly, the stearyl-CMSP/p53 plasmid complexes had significantly higher antiproliferative activity against HEK293-NK1R cells than they did against HEK293 cells, while the stearyl-CAMEL/p53 plasmid complexes did not show this specificity in antiproliferative activity. Consequently, conjugation of the NK1R-targeted ligand SP is a simple and successful strategy to construct efficient cancer-targeted non-viral gene vectors.     

Molecular docking analysis of beta-catenin with compounds derived from Lycopersicon esculentum

Beta-catenin is linked with colorectal cancer (CRC). Therefore, it is of interest to design and develop novel compounds to combat CRC. Hence, we document compounds (chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, quercetin and vanillic acid) from Lycopersicon esculentum with optimal binding features for further consideration.     

结直肠癌患者手术前后血清PCT、ADPN和 IL 6水平变化及其与肠道菌群失调的相关性

目的探讨结直肠癌患者手术前后血清降钙素(PCT)、白介素6(IL-6)和人脂联素(ADPN)的水平变化及其与肠道菌群失调的相关性。方法选取我院2016年3月至2018年10月收治的120例择期进行手术的结直肠癌患者为研究对象,其中肠道菌群正常者49例,Ⅰ度菌群失调者46例,Ⅱ度菌群失调者25例。比较3类患者一般资料、手术前后血清PCT、ADPN和IL-6水平之间的差异,分析血清PCT、ADPN和IL-6水平与菌群失调之间的相关性。结果 3类患者年龄、侵袭深度、临床分型、DUKE分期之间的差异均有统计学意义(均P0.05)。治疗后,不同程度菌群失调患者血清PCT、ADPN和IL-6之间的差异有统计学意义(均P0.05)。经两两比较,血清ADPN随患者菌群异常程度的升高而降低,PCT、IL-6随患者菌群异常程度的升高而升高(均P0.05)。随着患者菌群失调情况的加重,患者肠道球菌数量增加,杆菌数量降低(均P0.05)。患者血清PCT、ADPN水平与患者肠道乳杆菌、双歧杆菌以及真杆菌数量呈正相关(r=0.352、0.699、0.223、0.165、0.356、0.621,P=0.035、0.002、0.001、0.045、0.003、0.001),与肠球菌数量呈负相关(r=-0.756、-0.465,P=0.002、0.002)。患者血清IL-6水平与患者的乳杆菌、双歧杆菌以及真杆菌数量呈负相关(r=-0.263、-0.362、-0.250,P=0.012、0.022、0.001),与肠球菌数量呈正相关(r=0.175,P=0.002)。结论结直肠癌患者手术后血清ADPN、IL-6显著下降,PCT显著升高,且随着患者菌群失调程度的变化而变化,提示可将益生菌治疗作为降低局部炎性反应的措施之一。     

结直肠息肉切除术患者肠道微生态失调分析及其与癌变进展的相关性

目的分析结直肠息肉切除术患者肠道微生态失调情况及其与癌变进展的相关性。方法前瞻性选择2015年7月至2016年7月在我院行结直肠息肉切除术的89例患者为研究对象,评价所有研究对象手术前后肠道菌群计数、肠道菌群失调情况,采用单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析结直肠息肉切除术患者癌变的影响因素。结果结直肠息肉患者术后大肠埃希菌计数(10.85±0.50)、粪肠球菌计数(10.12±0.55)显著高于术前(8.34±0.41,7.76±0.37)(均P0.01),结直肠息肉患者术后双歧杆菌计数(2.56±0.68)、乳杆菌计数(2.83±0.71)显著低于术前(5.20±1.06,5.93±0.88)(均P0.01)。结直肠息肉患者术后Ⅰ度菌群失调比例(23.60%)显著低于术前(55.06%)(P0.05),结直肠息肉患者术后Ⅱ、Ⅲ度菌群失调比例(50.56%,25.84%)显著高于术前(34.83%,10.11%)(均P0.05)。随访3年显示89例结直肠息肉切除术患者癌变率为33.71%,性别、病理类型不同的结直肠息肉切除术患者癌变率差异无统计学意义(均P0.05),年龄、遗传史、息肉直径、肠道菌群失调程度不同的结直肠息肉切除术患者癌变率差异具有统计学意义(均P0.05)。年龄、遗传史、肠道菌群失调程度是结直肠息肉切除术患者癌变的影响因素(均P0.05)。结论结直肠息肉切除术患者存在明显肠道微生态失调情况,肠道微生态失调是结直肠息肉切除术患者癌变的危险因素,这对临床防治结直肠息肉切除术患者癌变有重要指导意义。     

微生态制剂在早期结直肠癌根治术后的作用

目的探讨微生态制剂在早期结直肠癌(CRC)根治术后的作用,并为此类患者提供一种术后康复支持疗法。方法选取2017年6月-2019年6月于本院接受早期CRC根治术术后97例患者作为研究对象,采用随机数字表分为观察组50例和对照组47例。两组术后均接受常规治疗,观察组在对照组基础上接受双歧杆菌三联活菌胶囊治疗,比较两组治疗前后细胞免疫指标、肠道微生态复杂度及属水平相对丰度、肠道菌群OTU数量、肠道黏膜屏障功能。结果治疗后观察组NK细胞、CD3~+T、CD4~+T、CD4~+/CD8~+T均提高(P0.05),观察组CD8~+T治疗前后相近(P0.05);治疗后对照组上述指标与治疗前差异均无统计学意义(P0.05),观察组NK细胞、CD3~+T、CD4~+T、CD4~+/CD8~+T均高于对照组(P0.05);治疗后观察组Chao1指数、Shannon指数、肠道菌群OTU数均升高(P0.05),对照组Chao1指数、Shannon指数、肠道菌群OTU数量治疗前后差异均无统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后观察组Chao1指数、Shannon指数、肠道菌群OTU数量均高于对照组(P0.05);治疗后观察组大肠杆菌、肠球菌、葡萄球菌属水平相对丰度均下降(P0.05),对照组均升高(P0.05),且观察组均低于对照组(P0.05);治疗后观察组乳杆菌、双歧杆菌、梭菌、类杆菌、链球菌属水平相对丰度均升高(P0.05),对照组均下降(P0.05),且观察组均高于对照组(P0.05);治疗后观察组血浆D-乳酸、DAO、I-FABP、内毒素水平分别为(6.94±1.23)mg/L、(3.45±0.65)U/L、(43.95±7.99)μg/L、(4.48±0.85)U/L,均较治疗前下降(P0.05),对照组各项指标水平分别为(15.59±2.79)mg/L、(7.74±1.35)U/L、(74.21±13.82)μg/L、(8.68±1.65)U/L,均较治疗前升高(P0.05),治疗后观察组血浆D-乳酸、DAO、I-FABP、内毒素水平均降低(P0.05)。结论微生态制剂可有效改善早期CRC患者根治术后的细胞免疫水平,有效纠正早期CRC术后患者肠道菌群失调,增强早期CRC根治术后患者肠黏膜屏障功能。     

Brain tumors: Cancer stem-like cells interact with tumor microenvironment

Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) with potential of self-renewal drive tumorigenesis. Brain tumor microenvironment (TME) has been identified as a critical regulator of malignancy progression. Many researchers are searching new ways to characterize tumors with the goal of predicting how they respond to treatment. Here, we describe the striking parallels between normal stem cells and CSCs. We review the microenvironmental aspects of brain tumors, in particular composition and vital roles of immune cells infiltrating glioma and medulloblastoma. By highlighting that CSCs cooperate with TME via various cellular communication approaches, we discuss the recent advances in therapeutic strategies targeting the components of TME. Identification of the complex and interconnected factors can facilitate the development of promising treatments for these deadly malignancies.